I didn’t name call, relax you gentle soul. I get the idea of playing the “hot hand” but it ain’t like we’re talking about a Radulov or a Kesler not scoring…this is Crosby. I don’t exactly like him but every time I watch him play he convinces me further that he’s the best in the world. He’s the pivot man on line one 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. End. Of. Discussion.

]]>By: jpelle82http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281736
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 03:53:27 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281736dude, they’re getting the chances because they are not facing the same matchups. they are getting 2nd and 3rd pair defensemen and capitalizing on it. pick your poison if you will for the opposition… if babcock can wear down the best defensive pair with big minutes against crosby and friends then it just increases the chances for the rest of his allstars and will wear the opponents down the longer the game goes on. babcock doesnt care who scores and everyone on the team can score
]]>By: elrock7http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281733
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 03:47:31 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281733stop being so anal kaptaan, teams will earn their credit.
]]>By: elrock7http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281732
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 03:44:57 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281732Still don’t get why Kunitz is playing.
]]>By: avscuphttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281731
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 03:34:34 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281731Well said. Canada is the 3rd seed right behind the USA though.
]]>By: kaptaanamericahttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281706
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:30:14 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281706Canadians don’t like to give US hockey credit… in general.
]]>By: kaptaanamericahttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281704
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:26:12 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281704So what you and some of the others commenting are saying is that if Tavares/ Getzlaf are centering lines that are scoring/ creating chances they shouldn’t get more icetime, and a line with Crosby should get the most icetime and offensive zone starts even if he isn’t producing/ creating quality chances…?

I’d rather give more time and offensive zone starts to lines that are actually producing/ creating chances…

Instead of name calling maybe think about how a coach manages the bench and icetime, including zone starts.

]]>By: agentdwhttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281694
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 00:52:08 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281694for the record, the US is the 2 seed; Canada is the 3rd. sorry for nit-picking, but i just thought i’d point that out.
]]>By: dumbassgreghttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281681
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 23:27:24 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281681why was ted Nolan not hired for coaching jobs for years. oh yeah now I remember aboriginal guy not willing to kiss john muckler ass. like aboriginals were taught in the catholic residential school in Canada.
]]>By: tdrusher225http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281667
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 22:12:20 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281667Dude half of Canada’s goals have been coming from defensemen and their power play. Subban certainly is a game breaker, but his skills aren’t needed at the moment. Also, Crosby is going to draw attention no matter what line he is on. With an All-Star team like this the 4th line is practically a 1st line as far as the quality of players. Hell, the “1st line” tomorrow is going have Crosby centering Kunitz and Bergeron
]]>By: duemanhttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281663
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:43:32 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281663Just remember that, nobody thought the Swiss would lose against Latvia either, but as long the players don’t take this game for granted, I’m sure they’ll be fine.
]]>By: duemanhttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281662
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:36:50 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281662Well said jpelle.
]]>By: jpelle82http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281660
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:27:00 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281660glad i’m not the only one who sees it clearly.
]]>By: evermenchhttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281655
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:19:31 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281655First the notion that Canada has any chance of losing this game is laughable. Secondly the backend has been outstanding thus far for Canada so playing Subban is no “gamebreaker” unless Babcock loses his mind and puts him in as a forward since up front has been their weakness so far. And lastly Crosby draws the top matchup every shift. Doesn’t matter where you put Tavares the point is the opposition schemes to stop Sid. Its pretty straight forward.
]]>By: jpelle82http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281652
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:10:22 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281652have you actually watched the games? you really think a line with tavares will draw the same matchups as a line featuring crosby? teams will still put their best against crosby whether he’s the 1st or the 3rd center on paper, they would be quickly reminded of why if they didnt. crosby is filling a role right now and he’s eating up minutes against the world’s best players effectively. he’s got 2 pts. tavares has 0 and he’s played with just about everybody so far. who would you bump to put subban in for? maybe vlassic but if you havent noticed, they dont need help on the powerplay and they dont need goals from defensemen which is all subban is really good for. you act like they are in the midst of a 2 game losing streak in the prelims – they are 3-0 with the 2nd seed…trust in the man who is the best canadian coach in the past decade, i think he knows what he is doing.
]]>By: 11111111111a22http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281650
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:04:19 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281650Yeah you’re right. What kind of idiot puts the best player in the world out centering their top line?

Get real.

]]>By: kaptaanamericahttp://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/for-all-the-canadians-who-thought-they-were-getting-switzerland-heres-a-quick-primer-on-latvia/comment-page-1/#comment-281644
Tue, 18 Feb 2014 20:44:16 +0000http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2317235#comment-281644I hate the lines Babcock is putting together. Tavares should be the 1st line center or even Getzlaf/ Perry line… keeping Crosby as the top center when he isn’t earning his ice is irritating. Not finding a role for Subban when the team can’t score is ridiculous. The guy is a gamebreaker.

Nolan has the Latvians believing and that is a dangerous thing for Canada. If he comes up with a plan to keep the anemic offence of the Canucks under control then this could be one of the biggest upsets ever.

If that happens Babcock/ Yzerman better not show their faces in Canada. its a recipe for disaster and if the Canucks lose then Babock/ Yzerman and their hockey Canada friends should be banned from ever coming near the national team again…